Company History

Deans Marine started in 1981 when the proprietor Ron Dean had the idea that parts for model ships could be produced on a part time basis to part finance his lifelong hobby of radio controlled model ship building. (Quote from the P.E.P. award brochure 1983)

Winning the Peterborough Enterprise Programme Enterprise award scheme in 1983 was a turning point for Ron Dean. Armed with the proof that his business study was a winner, it gave him the conviction to turn his hobby into a business.

"I had been producing accessories and parts for radio controlled kit boats in our spare room for several years- as a means of getting the sort of quality accessories that I could not find on the market and of funding my lifelong hobby."

"I had often thought that it had the potential to be a full-time business and wrote out my ideas as a business study for the enterprise award scheme. I never dreamed it would win but when it did, I decided to hand in my notice as an insurance agent and take the plunge."

"The whole thing snowballed until I was making complete kits." Explains Ron.

Now, many years on, Deans marine supplies model shops throughout the world and the buying public with a complete range of radio controlled model boat kits in its converted 1800s racing stables at Farcet near Peterborough.

The Deans Marine company now has approaching 100 kits in full production and is well know for its warships and their outstanding performance on the water, but the range is varied from merchant ships to tugs and fast launches and even historical ships that are preserved and still working.

The parent company employs five people full time and a further six on a self employed basis. (1989)

Deans has a expanding range and usually adds 4-5 new kits to its range each year, Sometimes more so as in 1999, 13 new models were shown at the Nurnburg toy fair, Germany. The company also has a continuous modification programme for its older kits to keep them up to date with new production techniques.

The first kit the company produced, H.M.S. Grenville is still in production and as popular as ever.

Deans has expanded over the years and now produces kits for other companies, who market them under their own banner.

The company has expanded into other branches. MOULDEANS is the exhibition section of the company.

This branch concentrates on Semi~kits. Detailed hulls and fittings sets for complicated or unusual models for the modeller who wishes to construct a large or difficult model or something a little out of the ordinary.

To this end it has 196 hulls in its comprehensive range.

Mouldeans takes care of the public exhibition side of the group travelling around the country and visiting shows and exhibitions displaying its products and selling the more unusual products to the modelling public.

DEANS MOULDINGS supplies contract glass fibre mouldings, kits and castings to the trade in general, but has also produced some strange items such as floats for rowing skiffs for handicapped people and exercise steps for step classes, and presentation figures for collectors.